Original subtitles

.

NARRATOR: WHEN YOU SEE THIS SYMBOL, YOU KNOW YOU’RE WATCHING

TELEVISION THAT IS EDUCATIONAL AND INFORMATIONAL.

THE MORE YOU KNOW ON NBC.

DYLAN: HI THERE, I'M DYLAN DREYER.

ARE YOU READY FOR AN ANIMAL SOIREE IN THE SAVANNA?

LET'S GO!

WELCOME TO "EARTH ODYSSEY."

TODAY WE'RE EXPLORING ONE OF AFRICA'S MOST FAMOUS LANDSCAPES

TO SEE SOME WILD PARTY ANIMALS.

LIKE THESE CANINE CARNIVORES THAT LOVE TO MAKE A SPLASH.

AND A HERD OF HARD-HEADED HERBIVORES READY TO MOVE OUT.

LATER, WE'LL GET A STOCKY, STURDY SHOW OF STRENGTH.

BUT FIRST, WE'RE HEADING STRAIGHT FOR THE LION'S DEN TO

MEET SOME INCORRIGIBLE CUBS.

THIS AND A WHOLE LOT MORE COMING UP ON "EARTH ODYSSEY."

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: FOR WILD ANIMALS, BEING SOCIAL ISN'T JUST ABOUT HAVING A

GOOD TIME, IT'S A CRUCIAL SURVIVAL TACTIC THAT OFFERS A

WIDE RANGE OF BENEFITS.

FOR BOTH YOUNG AND MORE MATURE CREATURES, MAINTAINING SOCIAL

BONDS MEANS PROTECTION, SHARING RESOURCES AND CELEBRATING

COMPANIONSHIP.

BUT EVERY ANIMAL SHOWS THEIR AFFECTION DIFFERENTLY.

AND FOR SOME, THE BEST WAY IS TO GET UP CLOSE AND EXTREMELY

PERSONAL.

IN THE WILD, ALMOST EVERYONE IS AN EARLY RISER.

AND FOR LIONS, THE START OF THE DAY MEANS A CHANCE TO SPEND SOME

QUALITY TIME WITH THE PRIDE.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: IT MAY BE A SLOW START, BUT EVERYONE IS GETTING IN ON

THE AFFECTIONATE ACTION.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

DYLAN: THIS CLOSE CUDDLING IS ACTUALLY MUTUAL GROOMING.

LIONS ARE PARTICULARLY GOOD AT TAKING CARE OF EACH OTHER'S FUR

THANKS TO EXTREMELY ROUGH TONGUES.

THEY'RE COVERED WITH CURVED HORNED TASTEBUDS THAT PRIMARILY

HELP WITH EATING.

HOWEVER, IT CAN'T BE DENIED THAT THEY MAKE A FORMIDABLE COMB.

WHEN THE COMFORT OF A GRASS BED DOESN'T DO THE TRICK, LIONS WILL

OFTEN MOVE TO A HIGHER-CLASS DWELLING; IN A TREE.

IT'S QUITE AN EXCEPTIONAL BEHAVIOR FOR AN ANIMAL USUALLY

SO GROUNDED.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

DYLAN: LIONS ARE IN THE FELINE FAMILY.

BUT ALONG WITH THE TIGER AND CHEETAH, THEIR EXCEPTIONS TO THE

FAMILY RULE BECAUSE THEY AREN'T CONSIDERED CLIMBERS.

THIS SIGHT WOULD HAVE YOU THINKING OTHERWISE.

RESEARCHERS HAVE FOUND THAT IT'S THE YOUNGER LIONS MORE

PREDISPOSED TO CLIMBING.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

DYLAN: BEFORE THEY PUT ON WEIGHT, IT'S EASIER FOR THEM TO

CLIMB VERTICALLY.

THESE LION CUBS MAKE RELATIVELY LIGHT WORK OF THE ASCENT.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

DYLAN: WHILE THEY MAY LOOK AT EASE, LIONS DON'T HAVE THE

INSTINCTUAL BALANCE TO BE TRULY ELITE CLIMBERS.

BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THEY WON'T TRY.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

DYLAN: ALONG WITH THEIR CUBS, THIS LION TREE HAS TWO ADULT

FEMALES AT EITHER END OF THE HIGHEST BRANCHES; MEANING, THEY

WERE THE FIRST TO CLIMB.

WERE THEY LOOKING FOR SOME ALONE TIME?

OR MERELY A SAFE RESTING SPOT FOR THEIR CUBS AWAY FROM ANY

WOULD-BE ATTACKERS?

WHATEVER THE REASON, CLIMBING TAKES LIONS OUT OF THEIR NATURAL

ENVIRONMENT.

BUT IT LOOKS LIKE THESE CUBS ARE MORE THAN COMFORTABLE WITH THE

CHANGE OF SCENERY.

WHEN WE RETURN, A PACK OF PREDATORS THAT LOOKS LIKE

A WORK OF ART.

AND A BULKY BOVINE THAT'S READY TO RUMBLE.

PLUS, THIS HERBIVORE REDEFINES THE TERM "MOTHER KNOWSBEST."

STAY TUNED FOR MORE "EARTH ODYSSEY."

.

NARRATOR: WE NOW RETURN TO THE MORE YOU KNOW ON NBC.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: WHEN IT COMES TO BEING SOCIAL, FEW ANIMALS ARE MORE

PROUD OF BEING PART OF A PACK THAN DOGS.

AND AFRICAN PAINTED DOGS ARE NO EXCEPTION.

THESE EXPERT HUNTERS LIVE AND HUNT IN GROUPS EPITOMIZING THE

SUCCESS OF TEAMWORK.

OTHER ANIMALS ARE CONSTANTLY ON ALERT WHEN WILD DOGS ARE AROUND,

ESPECIALLY IF THEY ARE NEWBORNS LIKE THIS BABY WILDEBEEST.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: WILD DOGS ARE THE LEAST DEMANDING OF ALL AFRICAN DOG

FAMILIES IN TERMS OF HABITAT.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

DYLAN: BUT THERE'S ONE THING THEY APPRECIATE MORE THAN

ANYTHING - ACCESS TO A POND.

WHEN THEY GET TO THE WATER'S EDGE, THEY CAN'T RESIST THE

TEMPTATION TO GET IN.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

DYLAN: THE PAINTED DOG HAS IN ITS ARSENAL STAMINA AND SPEED.

IT CAN RUN AT NEARLY 30 MILES PER HOUR FOR SEVERAL MILES.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

DYLAN: THIS GIVES IT A MASSIVE ADVANTAGE WHEN HUNTING.

ALTHOUGH IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, THE PREY ON THE OTHER SIDE

OF THE POND IS IN NO IMMEDIATE DANGER.

WHICH MEANS THIS YOUNG IMPALA CAN GO BACK TO PLAYING AROUND.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: EVEN THOUGH IMPALAS ARE ON THE MENU OF MOST PREDATORS IN

THE SAVANNA, THEY ARE A FLOURISHING SPECIES.

THESE YOUNG IMPALA ARE TESTING OUT THEIR NEWLY-GROWN HORNS.

BUT WHEN IT COMES TO IMPRESSIVE HEADWEAR, FEW MATCH THE HORNS OF

THE GREATER KUDU.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: THOUGH THIS RARE SABLE GIVES THEM A RUN FOR THEIR

MONEY.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

DYLAN: BUT IN TERMS OF SHEER RESILIENCE AND SPECIES SURVIVAL,

THE IMPALA STILL TAKES THE CAKE.

AND THE REASON WHY IS SPEED.

NOT HOW FAST THEY RUN, BUT HOW FAST THEY LEARN.

BABY IMPALAS ARE BARELY OUT OF THEIR MOTHER'S BELLY BEFORE THEY

SHOW A REMARKABLE ABILITY TO SURVIVE WITH RELATIVE

INDEPENDENCE.

WHEN THEY BECOME ADULTS, MALES WILL BAND TOGETHER WITH OTHER

YOUNG BACHELORS, EACH WITH HOPE OF ONE DAY BEING THE MASTER OF

THEIR OWN GROUP.

FOR YOUNG FEMALES, THEY STAY WITH THEIR FAMILY HERD AND ONCE

THEY'VE MATURED WILL GIVE BIRTH EVERY YEAR TO HELP KEEP UP THE

POPULATION OF THEIR SPECIES.

THE LIFE OF AN IMPALA IS ANYTHING BUT BORING.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: EACH DAY PRESENTS RISKS AND THEY MUST CONSTANTLY ADAPT

TO NEW CIRCUMSTANCES.

THE DRY SEASON.

CHANGING RESOURCES.

AND OF COURSE, PREDATORS.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

DYLAN: BUT ALONGSIDE ITS FELLOW HERBIVORES, THE IMPALA TAKES ON

EACH DAY'S CHALLENGES WITH VERSATILE INGENUITY.

COMING UP, A STRONG-MINDED SPECIES DEFINED BY SUCCESS.

AND SOME HORNED HERBIVORES THAT MAKE A POINT OF KEEPING THEIR

DISTANCE.

WHEN "EARTH ODYSSEY" RETURNS.

.

NARRATOR: WE NOW RETURN TO THE MORE YOU KNOW ON NBC.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: OF ALL THE INCREDIBLE ANIMALS THAT LIVE IN THE

SAVANNA, THERE IS ONE THRIVING MAMMAL SPECIES THAT OFTEN SLIPS

UNDER THE RADAR.

THE AFRICAN BUFFALO - ALSO KNOWN AS THE CAPE BUFFALO.

THIS HEARTY, HORNED BOVINE IS AN IMPRESSIVE MODERN SUCCESS STORY.

ABLE TO LIVE IN MANY ENVIRONMENT ENVIRONMENTS, SURVIVE ON LIMITED

RESOURCES AND DEFEND ITSELF WITH FORMIDABLE FORCE, THIS

HEAVYWEIGHT HERBIVORE IS A STELLAR ADDITION TO THE ANIMAL

KINGDOM.

AS THE MORNING SUN RISES, THE ENERGY AND ACTIVITY PICK UP.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: ESPECIALLY AT THE SAVANNA'S MOST POPULAR SOCIAL

SPOT; THE WATER HOLE.

THESE BUFFALO ARE ALREADY DIVING IN.

ABLE TO WEIGH UP TO 2,000 POUNDS, NOT MANY WOULD DARE TO

MESS WITH THIS HERD AS THEY ENJOY A MORNING SHOWER.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

DYLAN: THE AFRICAN BUFFALO IS THE LARGEST OF THE BOVINE

FAMILY.

ITS SOLID AND POWERFUL BUILD MAKES THEM KING OF THIS

VERSATILE GROUP.

THE DIKA, WHO WEIGHS ABOUT A TENTH OF THE BUFFALO, IS

ACTUALLY ITS COUSIN.

AS IS THIS NIMBLE CHARACTER, THE BUSHBUCK.

BUT IT'S THE BUFFALO THAT TRULY IMPRESSES AS ONE OF THE MOST

SUCCESSFUL MAMMALS ON THE AFRICAN CONTINENT.

ITS SIZE, POPULATION AND GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION ARE

ALL CLUES OF ITS PROSPERITY.

ONE REASON FOR THIS SUCCESS IS A FLEXIBLE DIET.

THE BUFFALO EATS TALL GRASSES THAT ARE TOO TOUGH FOR OTHER

ANIMALS.

THIS ALLOWS IT TO SATISFY ITS DIETARY NEEDS WITH RELATIVE

EASE.

THE ONLY TRULY STRICT LIVING CONDITION THEY HAVE IS A NEED

FOR FRESH WATER.

THEY CAN NEVER BE TOO FAR FROM A WATER SOURCE AS THEY NEED TO

DRINK ALMOST 8 GALLONS A DAY.

TALK ABOUT A THIRST-QUENCHER.

UNLIKE THE FEMALES THAT STOP GROWING WHEN THEY REACH

MATURITY, MALES GROW INDEFINITELY, AND FOR GOOD

REASON.

HIERARCHY AMONG THE GROUP IS DECIDED BY SIZE.

THESE CONFRONTATIONS ARE EXHIBITIONS IN POWER AND BRUTE

FORCE.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: THIS TIME, THE FIGHT IS JUST A TRAINING SESSION BETWEEN

A FEW MALES LIVING AWAY FROM THE HERD.

BUFFALOS RARELY USE THEIR HORNS, BUT WHEN THEY DO, LOOK OUT.

ANOTHER TELLTALE SIGN OF WHY THIS SPECIES THRIVES IS THE

POPULATION AND COHESION OF THE HERD.

AS THEY MOVE ALONG, THEY ARE CONTINUALLY COMMUNICATING WITH

EACH OTHER, LOOKING OUT FOR THEIR WELL-BUILT COMMUNITY.

NEXT UP, A VORACIOUS VEGETARIAN WITH A SPIKY REPUTATION.

ALL THIS COMING UP ON "EARTH ODYSSEY."

.

NARRATOR: WE NOW RETURN TO THE MORE YOU KNOW ON NBC.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: IT'S MOSTLY PREDATORS WHO PREFER A SOLITARY LIFESTYLE.

BUT RHINOS BUCK THE TREND.

FOR THE MOST PART, THE RHINOCEROS LIVES ALONE,

PREFERRING TO AVOID ITS OWN KIND AND ANY OTHER FOR THAT MATTER.

HOWEVER, THERE ARE THOSE THAT STILL ADHERE TO THE HERD

LIFESTYLE.

FEMALES AND THEIR YOUNG WILL OFTEN STAY AS A GROUP CALLED A

CRASH.

WITH A NOSE LIKE THAT, A CRASH SHOULD BE AVOIDED AT ALL COSTS.

[MUSIC]

DYLAN: ANOTHER ANIMAL KNOWN FOR ITS HELPFUL HEADWEAR IS THE

ELEPHANT; ONE OF THE WILD'S MOST SOCIAL SPECIES.

THESE CREATURES FORM TIGHTKNIT GROUPS THAT GENERATE DEEP

EMOTIONAL CONNECTIONS.

WHETHER BATHING, PLAYING OR EATING, ELEPHANTS STICK

TOGETHER.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

DYLAN: IT'S NO SURPRISE THESE MAMMOTH CREATURES DON'T HAVE

MUCH TO FEAR IN THE WAY OF PREDATORS.

THEIR SIZE AND STRENGTH IS EXPONENTIAL BECAUSE OF THEIR

CONSTANT PROXIMITY TO THE GROUP.

IT'S FAR MORE THAN JUST A HERD OF HERBIVORES, IT'S A FAMILY.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

DYLAN: THEY'RE ALL SENSITIVE, INTELLIGENT AND ORGANIZED

INDIVIDUALS.

EVERY DAY WITHOUT FAIL, THE WHOLE HERD GATHERS AND HEADS FOR

THE WATERING HOLE TO DRINK.

DESPITE ITS HUGE DAILY NEEDS FOR WATER AND FOOD, THE AFRICAN

ELEPHANT HAS MANAGED TO SURVIVE IMPRESSIVELY IN THE SAVANNA.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

DYLAN: ITS LIFE AND BUILD IS SO FAMILIAR TO US, WE OFTEN FORGET

JUST HOW UNIQUE ELEPHANTS ARE.

IT'S A TRULY MAJESTIC EXAMPLE OF THE BEAUTY IN AFRICA.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

DYLAN: THE GREAT HERD IS MADE UP OF SMALL FAMILY GROUPS OF

ABOUT A DOZEN MEMBERS.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

DYLAN: THEY'VE COME TOGETHER TO BATHE, AND AFTERWARDS, EACH

GROUP WILL GO THEIR OWN WAY.

BUT ALWAYS MAKING SURE NO ONE IS LEFT BEHIND.

WE'RE SO GLAD YOU COULD COME ALONG ON OUR AFRICAN ADVENTURE

TO SEE THE MOST SOCIAL ANIMALS IN THE SAVANNA.

FROM THE COUNTLESS NUMBERS OF IMPALA HERDS TO TIGHTKNIT

ELEPHANT FAMILIES, IT'S CLEAR THERE ARE PLENTY OF ADVANTAGES

TO GREGARIOUS LIVING.

THESE CREATURE COMMUNITIES SHOW US THAT IN THE WILD, NO TASK IS

TOO TOUGH WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS BY YOUR SIDE.

WE HOPE TO SEE YOU AGAIN FOR ANOTHER EPISODE OF "EARTH

ODYSSEY."

[MUSIC]